The Shepherd's Sin

     The shepherd is one of the most interesting characters in Sophocles, to me.  I do not know whether to cast the man as a villain or a hero. Without him we would have no Oedipus, yet with him Oedipus is condemned to his fate.

     When Oedipus is left for dead, the shepherd takes compassion on him and saves him. Is this his crime? How can we condemn him for saving an innocent life?  If anything surely he was being just, no god had condemn or commanded Oedipus to die. Yet, the shepherd disobeyed his mistress's orders. From my point of view I cannot accuse him of villainy, saving a innocent child who was left to die in the wilderness, and giving him a chance at life. 

     However, later in life the shepherd's valiant deed comes back to haunt him. The shepherd, loyal and faithful to his king, Laius, is the only one who escapes Oedipus. At this point, does the shepherd know the man who has killed his king is Oedipus?  He does eventually figure out who this man is, though. Yet, he doesn't speak up, he never says anything. Especially, to the queen.  This is because he knows his own life is endangered.  This is where I say the crime is committed. The shepherd lets his fear control what is right. He knows that Oedipus is a strong man and a killer and he knows that the queen has all right to kill him.  His fear commands silence, his silence leads to ruin of his city and his master's house.  The lesson I learn from the shepherd is that silence is against something wrong, is just as bad as condoning it. Also if one let's fear stop them from standing up for what is right, than evil has already conquered.

Commented on Tinsley's post.